The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit (WIU) is proud to share its coordination efforts with its school districts and Westmoreland County Emergency Management to produce 3-D Masks for distribution in areas of need. A 3-D mask provides six times the usage of a single surgical mask. Up to 250 masks will be donated to the Westmoreland County Emergency Management by the beginning of next week. Each mask takes approximately 5 hours to print and 15 minutes to add weather stripping and elastic.

Mr. Timothy Hammill, Curriculum Services Director, who is leading the project by securing production materials and organizing volunteers to operate 3-D Printers, shared that, “The outpouring of kindness and willingness to contribute is truly humbling.” He went on to thank Tom Joseph, Regional Coordinator of the Montana Mask Project, who donated elastic, weather stripping and plastic filament and Melanie Fleming, a parent from Franklin Regional School District, who donated elastic and a monetary donation. In addition, special thanks goes to educators [Candice Hite (WIU), Sarah Wagner (WIU), Dave Vinopal (Derry Area), Brian Nymick (Greensburg Salem) , Roger Pechart (Greensburg Salem), and Jarred Schultz (Norwin)], who assisted with the printing and assembly of the masks.

Cassandra Kovatch, Public Information Officer/Administrative Assistant for Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, accepted the first 100 masks on Wednesday. Upon receipt of the masks, she shared that the current greatest need for masks in the county are being requested from the county’s frontline non-profit organizations providing services to our citizens.